6 New Technology Trends For Local Business

Whether you’ve just opened a local business or wondering what new things the world of technologies can bring your company, following the trends is imperative. Each year, the progress is leaping forward and the old systems are becoming outdated. If you seem to be doing everything just as you did last year but your business is faring worse, think about what you are missing. Most likely, you are not staying up to date with the contemporary technologies.

Artificial Intelligence

Small businesses are getting savvy in using artificial intelligence. It helps them get a competitive edge and stay attractive to consumers. If you haven’t used AI for your business yet, read up on the options. The only thing you need to decide is whether you’ll be using B2B or B2C model. Take advantage of both is complicated.

New Payment Options

Grandmas and schoolchildren know how to use PayPal and make payments with their iPhones. However, the payment options are becoming even more diverse. A business, which ignores such methods as Square and Bitcoin can easily lose the competitive edge. Such small business as the local florist might not seem to need the new options, but it is only a matter of months until it does. Small local businesses can adapt to the new payment-processing options than the large companies.

Diverse E-Commerce Options

If your company has an option of going out on the Internet and you haven’t done it yet, you are far behind. Every day the e-commerce market is becoming more and more competitive. If you haven’t set up an e-shop yet, you keep losing money. The global e-commerce market is saturated and you need to fight to occupy your niche.

Better Cybersecurity

As the security is getting tougher, the hackers are becoming smarter. Think about it when protecting your business in the online environment. The new payment methods are giving the hackers a brand new field to conquer. Attacks against digital wallets, plugins, and apps are unavoidable. It’s better to work out a cybersecurity plan before they strike. Even organized criminals might become more interested in hacking the digital wallet system.

Local companies need to be ready to protect their data since they store such important information as credit card numbers. Even window cleaning or home cleaning businesses, such as EcoPure Cleaning Services can be subject to the attacks so they should be working on new security measures.

Going Digital

Physical brands, such as Walmart or IKEA are planning to become more digitized, and local businesses should follow suit. While site-to-store purchases are already part of the game, the companies will be creating new online store perks, such as store maps and product trials. Physical will be going digital and vice versa.

Simpler Access

The businesses are using new technologies to simplify the access to their services. No more hard-to-read websites or “call us” sections. A customer wants to have direct access to all the services through the smartphone and all the businesses are allowing them to do just that. No more wasting time calling the rep and waiting on the phone. All the interactions are becoming faster and more effective.